Entries by Lisa McDonald

National Consumers League Calls on Congress to Establish a Robust Regulatory System for Hemp-derived Beverages Before Extending Hemp Deadline

October 8, 2026 in /by

October 8, 2026: Washington, DC – A provision in the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the controlled substances list, creating a loophole in federal law that allowed the hemp industry to build a billion-dollar empire where manufacturers extract and concentrate intoxicating cannabinoids from hemp and market them in gummies, vapes, beverages, and other products. Using an addiction-for-profit model, these products are packaged with bright colors and candy-like branding that appeal to minors.

Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi to Keynote a Conversation on Ending Global Child Labor

October 1, 2026 in /by

October 1, 2026: Washington, DC – Nobel Peace Laureate and global child rights advocate Kailash Satyarthi will join leaders in child labor advocacy, academia, diplomacy, and international development on Monday, October 5, for “Solving Global Child Labor with Compassion,” a public event hosted by the National Consumers League’s (NCL) Child Labor Coalition at American University’s School of International Service. Register here.

The Message of This Year’s National Food Safety Month: Make Food Safety a National Priority

October 1, 2026 in /by

October 1, 2026: National Food Safety Education Month was established in 1994, a year after the deadly Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak sickened over 700 people and killed four children, making it the most infamous restaurant-associated foodborne illness crisis in U.S. history. Recognizing that foodborne illnesses affect one in six Americans annually, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations annually and more than 3,000 preventable deaths, every September the observance raises awareness of ways to prevent consumers from getting sick by eating contaminated food.

NCL Submits Comments Supporting FTC Policy Against Personalized Pricing 

September 28, 2026 in /by

September 28, 2026: Washington, DC—On Friday, the National Consumers League, joined by 26 other public interest organizations, submitted comments in response to the Federal Trade commission’s (FTC) proposed policy regarding personalized pricing, also known as surveillance pricing. NCL supported the FTC’s position that failing to disclose personalized pricing likely violates the law. NCL also urged the FTC to hold businesses accountable for uses of personalized pricing that would seriously harm consumers even if disclosed.  

Administration’s “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” Initiative is an Assault on Consumers and Common Sense

September 28, 2026 in /by

September 28, 2026: Washington, DC— Today, the Trump administration released a final rule weakening federal fuel economy standards for cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs. The rule, dubbed “Freedom Means Affordable Cars,” lowers the fleet average fuel economy from 50.4 miles per gallon to 34.9 miles per gallon by model year 2031.

National Consumers League to Convene Experts on AI, Fraud, and Healthcare at Two-Day Conference

September 24, 2026 in /by

September 21, 2026 Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) will bring together policymakers, consumer advocates, healthcare professionals, technology leaders, and innovators for “The Future of Trust: Artificial Intelligence in Fraud & Healthcare,” a two-day conference, September 23-34, examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping two areas with significant consequences for consumers: fraud and healthcare. RSVP here.

LIV Golf Schadenfreude

September 16, 2026 in /by

September 16, 2026: I read a headline today that I found very satisfying – and I felt bad that it made me happy.

“LIV Golf has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It is $500 million in debt, part of its goal to revive the league without Saudi funding.”

Consumer Organizations Urge Congress to Protect Robust Tailpipe Emission Standards, Alleviate Pain at the Pump

September 16, 2026 in /by

September 16, 2026: Washington, DC — The National Consumers League, Consumer Federation of America, and 24 other public interest organizations sent a letter to House and Senate leadership urging members of Congress to oppose resolutions that would invalidate robust tailpipe emission standards adopted in full or in part by 18 states and the District of Columbia.